Branching out from under the OVS spotlight, veteran singer and actress Avery Colborn and first time community thespian Gavin Floyd are starring in the Ojai Youth Entertainers Studio’s production of the Tony Award-winning Broadway show Rent.
Gavin, a junior at the Upper Campus, and Avery, an eighth grader at Lower, just completed their second weekend of the OYES production.
The duo has been hard at work since mid-August, practicing seven days a week, at least four hours each day. After Avery decided to audition for a spot, Artistic Director Krista Kim asked her if she knew any boys who were interested in acting. Avery’s mom, Assistant Head of School Laurel Colborn, knew of Gavin’s interest in acting and immediately recommended him.
That’s when it all began.
The pair went through a series of auditions, consisting of singing, dancing and reading excerpts from the rock musical, written by famed playwright Jonathon Larson. Finally after callbacks and another round of auditions, they got the call they had been waiting for from Director Kytriena Payseno, saying they were officially part of the cast.
Avery was cast as tabloid reporter Alexi Darling, along with various roles as extras including a back-up singer, a homeless woman, a Bohemian and a drug addict. Gavin was cast as Paul, a support group leader, a drug dealer, a homeless man and a dancer.
After weeks of practice and endless nights of rehearsal, the show opened Oct. 2 to a packed audience.
“The first performance went really well,” Avery said. “It was a sold out show so the energy was really good.”
Avery first began participating in musical performances when she was three yeas old. She has participated in the OVS Campus Lighting and in various school plays, including the lead role of Robin Hood when she was in fifth grade.
She took part in her first Ojai Valley community play, playing the beast in Beauty and the Beast, when she was eight years old.
Gavin also started his acting career at Lower in eighth grade and has continued participating in OVS productions at the Upper Campus. He said initially he joined the OYES production as a way to fill his time in the fall, and to continue acting, especially since opportunities, such as the Spud Factory acting troupe at the Upper Campus, had disappeared. But after spending hours on end at rehearsals, Gavin is now passionate and fully invested in the production.
“There were times I wanted to quit, but then once we started getting into the show, once it all started to come together, it started to get fun,” Gavin said. “I’m really happy I am part of something like this.”
Both Avery and Gavin owe their introduction to the OVS theater to Lower Campus Performing Arts Coordinator Andy Street. Mr. Street has also been working with the Rent cast; he helps out by playing piano and working with the singers on breathing and enunciation, while providing advice from an audience’s perspective.
“I love having him there, especially since I know him really well,” Avery said of Mr. Street. “He also gave me little tips on the side and stuff, which was really nice.”
For his part, Mr. Street said he is proud to see the growth and maturity that Avery and Gavin have shown over the years as performers and individuals. He is especially pleased with how they have been able to work with an older cast.
“Gavin and Avery are working with many older and more experienced actors yet seem to fit in fine, and I’m sure they are learning a great deal from them,” Mr. Street said.
Reflecting back on Avery’s role of Robin Hood in fifth grade, Mr. Street says that she has grown so much as a performer and is excited to direct her in this year’s Lower Campus musical.
As for Gavin, Mr. Street says that he has really developed and matured, not only as an actor but as a singer.
“He is doing great and working on his singing,” Mr. Street said. “Rent is HARD! Very HARD for singers.”
For the next two weekends, Gavin and Avery will be found on stage at OYES, singing their hearts out.
Both agree that while opening night was a success, the show will just keep getting better. Both also agree that at first the topic of the musical, a heart-wrenching tale of the ravages of HIV/Aids and drugs, was different from anything they had every done before.
“It was difficult at first, but you slowly come to grips with it all,” Gavin said. “Talking about it now has a different meaning than before.”
Not only did it this play help Avery improve her acting, but it also educated her on the topic of HIV/AIDS.
“I haven’t ever known anyone with HIV/AIDS, so I sort of had a hard time relating to my characters,” she said. “Now that I know a lot more about it I’ve realized how serious of a disease it is.”
For both Avery and Gavin this experienced has been filled with learning, maturity, endless nights, and success. They still have a long run of performances ahead of them but are excited for the coming shows. Both are grateful for the opportunity and thankful for what they have learned.
“I’ve learned that not everyone has an easy life,” Avery said. “Jonathan Larson didn’t make up this story, it is very real. The characters might be fictional, but there are people going through the same things as the characters are. I’ve also learned that even if you’re going through a bad time, you don’t have to let that control you. There is a lyric in the play that says, ‘ “There’s only now, there’s only this. Forget, regret or life is yours to miss.’ ”
